[Federal Register: May 13, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 92)]
[Notices]
[Page 25551-25552]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13my05-49]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Availability of Draft Integrated Feasibility Report &
Environmental Impact Statement for the Flood Damage Reduction Project,
Bloomsburg, PA
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE), Baltimore District has prepared a Draft Integrated Feasibility
Report & Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the flood damage
reduction project for the Town of Bloomsburg, in Columbia County, PA.
The integrated report investigates the potential environmental effects
of an array of alternative plans based on reducing flood damages in
Bloomsburg. The preferred alternative includes 16,555 linear feet of
levee/floodwall systems with fourteen drainage structures, and nine
closure structures, six of which incorporate limited road raisings. We
are making the integrated report and EIS available to the public for a
45-day review and comment period.
DATES: Comments need to be received on or before June 27, 2005, to
ensure consideration in final plan development. A public meeting on the
flood damage reduction measures presented in the integrated report and
EIS will be held on Thursday, June 16, 2005 beginning at 7 p.m.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments concerning this proposed project to
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Attn: Mr. Jeff
Trulick, CENAB-PL-P, P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, MD 21203-1715. Submit
electronic comments to jeff.trulick@usace.army.mil. The public meeting
will be held at the Bloomsburg Fire Department Banquet Hall at 911
South Market Street, in Bloomsburg, PA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jeff Trulick, Study Manager, (410)
962-6715 or (800) 295-1610.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Town of Bloomsburg, PA is located in
Columbia County within the Middle Susquehanna River sub-basin. The
Susquehanna River forms the Town's southern boundary, and Fishing Creek
forms the northern and western boundary.
The primary water resources problem along the Susquehanna River at
Bloomsburg is recurrent flooding. Recurrent flooding that occurs in the
Bloomsburg study area is a result of the morphology of the Susquehanna
River and the regional topography. When the Susquehanna River and a
local tributary, Fishing Creek, simultaneously rise above flood stage,
overbank flooding can cover up to 33 percent of the landmass within the
Town of Bloomsburg's boundaries.
Flood damages are attributable to overbank flooding from the
Susquehanna River and to flooding along Fishing Creek. Past flood
events have resulted in extensive damages to structures and their
contents and have threatened public safety. The Bloomsburg study area
includes approximately 525 residential structures and 75 businesses.
The recommended flood damage reduction plan is the National
Economic Development (NED) Plan with a Tropical Storm Agnes (440-year)
level of protection from Susquehanna river flooding, and 100-year level
of protection from Fishing Creek flooding. The recommended plan
consists of 16,555 linear feet of levee/floodwall systems with fourteen
drainage structures, and nine closure structures, six of which
incorporate limited road raisings. The alignment of the line of
protection was refined based on physical, environmental, and economic
criteria.
The project consists of a system of earthen levees, mechanically
stabilized earth (MSE) floodwalls, concrete floodwalls, railroad and
road closure structures and roadway relocations to provide ramps over
the line of protection. Earthen levees are proposed for the majority of
the line of protection, though MSE walls will be required along
portions of Fishing Creek in both Bloomsburg and Fernville and a
concrete floodwall (H-Pile wall) will be required along portions of
Fishing Creek in Bloomsburg. Limited riprap will be used to protect the
steep banks of Fishing Creek from bank crest to below the stream invert
along the lower project reaches along Fishing Creek.
[[Page 25552]]
Permanent environmental impacts would include restricted views by
the levee/floodwall system of Fishing Creek from Bloomsburg and
Fernville, excavation and off-site disposal of approximately 4,500
cubic yards of hazardous, toxic and radioactive waste materials,
conversion of approximately 11.5 acres of farmland designated as Prime
Farmland or additional Farmland of Statewide Importance to non-
agricultural use, long-term loss of nearly 3,000 linear feet of
riparian habitat along Fishing Creek, the loss of less than one acre of
wetlands, and taking of residential homes and business structures
within the levee/floodwall footprint.
A public hearing on the Draft SEIS will be held at the Bloomsburg
Fire Department Banquet Hall (see DATES and ADDRESSES). A map showing
the location of the Bloomsburg Fire Department can be found at http://wphc.us/Default.aspx?alias=wphc.us/bfd.
The meeting will provide an
opportunity for the public to present oral and/or written comments. For
submission of electronic comments, your comment must be contained in
the body of your message; do not send attached files. Include your name
and address in your message. All persons and organization that have an
interest in the flood damage reduction measures as they affect Columbia
County and the environment are urged to attend the meeting and provide
comments.
USACE has distributed copies of the Draft report and EIS to
appropriate members of Congress, State and local government officials,
Federal agencies, and other interested parties. Copies are available
for public review at the following locations:
(1) Bloomsburg Public Library, 225 Market Street, Bloomsburg, PA
17815.
(2) Columbia County Historical Library, 225 Market Street,
Bloomsburg, PA 17815.
(3) Columbia County Traveling Library, 15 Perry Avenue, Bloomsburg,
PA 17815.
You may view the Draft report and EIS in addition to related
information on our web page at http://www.nab.usace.army.mil/publications/non-reg_pub.htm
.
After the public comment period ends on June 27, 2005, USACE will
consider all comments received. The integrated report and EIS will be
revised as appropriate and a Final Integrated Report and EIS will be
issued.
The Draft Integrated Report and EIS has been prepared in accordance
with (1) The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as
amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), (2) regulations of the Council on
Environmental quality for implementing the procedural provisions of
NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and (3) USACE regulations implementing
NEPA (ER-200-2-2).
Jeff Trulick,
Study Manager.
[FR Doc. 05-9583 Filed 5-12-05; 8:45 am]
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